Artists equipment



Nov. 14, 1939. M. M. KANDLE ARTISTS EQUIPMENT Filed June 18, 1937 INVENTOR HIS ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 14, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFics 4 Claims.

My invention relates to artists equipment and includes among its objects and advantages the provision of an improved stretching frame.

An object of my invention is to provide a mount for artists canvas in the nature of a frame including novel means for applying and maintaining uniform tension on the canvas.

Another object is to provide a stretching frame designed in such a manner as to afford quick and easy mounting and dismounting of the canvas and in which the stretching means is designed to compensate expansion and contraction so as to maintain uniform tension on the canvas under all conditions of service and over long periods of time.

A further object is to provide a mount for artists canvas including a first frameand a second frame movably related thereto with means cooperable on the two frames for automatically stretching the canvas when the movable frame is latched in operative relation with the first frame.

A further object is to provide a stretching frame including means for applying uniform tension to the canvas so that the latter will respond a uniformly to the touch of the artists brush.

Another object is to provide a stretching frame serving as a mount for artists canvas and in which the frame is so designed as to give the artista framed effect to his picture as he paints.

Another object is to provide a stretching frame designed to maintain the canvas under continuous and uniform tension without the aid of tools, tacking, and the like, and in which the tension appliedto the canvas is of such a nature as to prevent slack and consequent remounting incident to conventional methods of tacking canvas.

A further object is to provide a stretching frame forartists canvas in which the frame is so designed as to afford protection for freshly painted pictures, thus facilitating handling and transportation.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of my stretching frame showing the canvas attached thereto; Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view; i

Fig'. 3 is a sectional view along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 illustrating the frames in separated relation preparatory to applying tension to the canvas; and

Fig. 6 is a view taken from the position indicated by line 6-6 of Fig. 4 with a portion broken away for the sake of clearness.

In the embodiment selected to illustrate my invention I make use of an inner frame Ill and an outer frame I2, both of which cooperate to support the artists canvas l4. Inner frame It) may comprise four frame members It having mitered ends l8 arranged in abutting relation and permanently connected together, as by gluing or nailing in the manner of conventional picture frames.

Outer frame l2 comprises two frame members 25! coextensive in length with the horizontal width of the inner frame 16 and two frame members 22 of sufiicient length to extend across the ends of the frame members 2!]. Hinges 2t pivotally connect the outer frame with the inner frame.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 4, each of the frame members It is provided with a plurality of slots 28 while the outer frame members 253 and 22 are provided with slots 28 arranged opposite the slots 26. Slots 26 and 28 are relatively narrow, with the bottoms 38 of the slots 26 defining acute angles with respect to the edge 32 of its associated frame member iii. All the frame members It are identical in construction with the exception of length, which is also true of the frame members 2i] and 22 so that the specific description of either will apply to all within that group. In Fig. 4, the slot 28 has an angular bottom 34 arranged at an acute angle to the face 3% of the frame member 22. With the frame members l6 and 22 adjusted according to Fig. 2, the aligned slots 26 and 23 define a geometrical figure in the nature of a triangle.

With each of the slots 28 I associate a resilient canvas tensioning element 38. Fig. 5 illustrates the normal contour of the tensioning elements 2%! before the canvas is stretched. According to Fig. 5, the tensioning element 38 comprises spring Wire having a reach llkpositioned within a bore 42 in the frame member 22. The bore 42 is positioned adjacent the slot 28 with its axis positioned in the same plane. The spring wire is bent at 44 to provide a substantially right angular reach 46 shaped to provide an angular end sharpened at 50 to facilitate penetration of the margin 52 of the canvas l4. Reach Eli moves freely within its associated slot 28 and is maintained under initial tension by a small brad 5i. Thus, the element 38 is mounted by merely inserting the reach 40 in the bore 42, pressing the reach 46 inwardly of the slot 28, and driving the brad 54 home. I

The axes of the hinges 24 are so located as to permit the frame members 20 and 22 to pivot freely with respect to the inner frame it. However, the faces 56 of the frame members 2t and 22 are brought into close and parallel relation with the faces 32 of the inner frame when the parts are adjusted according to- Fig. 4. The spacing is sufficient to accommodate the margin 52 of the canvas. Fig. 5 illustrates theadjust able nature of the frame members 2! and 22 and the manner in which the canvas is associated with the inner frame 10 preparatory to placing the canvas under tension. After the canvas has been placed across the inner frame It? with the margins 52 bent downwardly over the faces 32, the frame members 20 and 22 are pivoted in the direction of the inner frame, which brings the projecting reaches 68 into engagement with the margins 52 and forces the sharp ends 50 through the canvas. Because of the narrow nature of the slots 26, the points 56 will pass readily through the material. After the frame members 20 and 22 are pivoted to the position illustrated in Fig. 4, the elements will be flexed, as illustrated in Fig. 4, for exerting a pull on the canvas. The pull is uniformly distributed about the canvas, and the tension of the elements 38 maintains the canvas under proper tension.

In Figs. 2 and 3, I illustrate means for latching the frame members 25 and 22 in canvas holding relation with the inne frame iii. Each of the reaches 251 and is provided with a latch element 58 having a threaded end '68 anchored in its associated frame member. The element 58 includes a right angular reach 52 shaped to extend over the frame member :8. Fig. 2 illustrates the position of the latch elements 58 in their holding position. With the latch elements moved to the dotted line illustration, the frame members 23 and 22 may be moved freely about the axes of the hinges 2 3. When positioned according to the full line illustration, the frame members 28 and 22 are effectively supported in the manner illustrated in Fig, 3. Adjustment of the latch elements 53 is consummated by rotating the elements about the axis of the threaded reach 80. Because of the threads, movement of the latch elements across the frame members IE will cause increased pressure relation between the latch elements and the frame members so as to effectively support the frame members in the position of Fig. 3 against the tension of the elements 38. The space between the faces 32 and 3G is sufficient to prevent pressure relation between the faces and the margins 52 so as not to impair the resilient forces of the elements 38 upon the canvas i l.

The front faces of the frame members it are shaped to have angular relation with the canvas M, as indicated at in Fig. 3. Thus, the canvas 14 has pressure relation with the front faces of the frame members only along the lines indicated at Thus, the entire working area of the canvas M is arranged in spaced relation with the inner frame so that all portions of the canvas will respond uniformly to the touch of the artists brush. Fig 3 illustrates the front faces 68 of the frame members and 22 as projecting above the working face of the canvas i l. The projecting feature imparts a framed effect to the mounted canvas in addition to providing a support for a rigid panel which may be positioned adjacent the faces for protecting the freshly painted canvas. With such a panel assembled with the outer frame the canvas may be wrapped and transported without damage to the freshly painted work.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully explain my invention that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service.

I claim:

1. Artists equipment comprising a canvas supportion frame having slots in its edges, a second frame comprising frame parts hingedly connected with the first frame, said frame parts being provided with slots aligning with the slots in the first frame, tensioning elements carried by said frame parts and lying within the slots therein, said tensioning elements having piercing elements arranged to penetrate a canvas associated with the first frame, said frame parts being so related to the first frame as to fiex said tensioning elements after connection with the canvas when the frame parts are moved into predetermined relation with the first frame, to place the canvas under tension.

2. A device of the type described comprising a first frame slotted about its edges, a second frame fitting about the first frame, said first frame being adapted to support a canvas with the latter having margins adapted to be bent over the edges of the first frame to lie thereagainst between the first and second frames, said second frame including a plurality of frame parts hingedly connected with the first frame, resilient tensioning means carried by the frame parts having piercing elements arranged to pierce said margins of the canvas and enter the slots in the first frame for tensioning the canvas when the frame parts are moved to tensioning positions with respect to the first frame, and means for fixedly relating the frame parts to the first frame in said tensioning positions.

3. A device of the type described comprising a first frame having slots spaced along its edge a second frame fitting loosely about the first frame, said first frame being adapted to support a canvas with the latter having margins adapted to be bent over the edges of the first frame to lie thereagainst between the first and second frames, said second frame including a plurality of frame parts pivotally connected with the first frame, resilient tensioning elements carried by said frame parts having piercing elements arranged to pierce said margins of the canvas and enter the slots in the first frame for tensioning the canvas when the frame parts are pivoted to tensioning positions with respect to the first frame, the margins of the canvas fitting loosely between the first and second frames, and means for fixedly relating the frame parts to the first frame in said tensioning positions of the frame parts for holding the tensioning elements under fiexure.

4. A device of the type described comprising a first frame having slots spaced along its edges, a second frame means fitting loosely about the first frame, said first frame being adapted to support a canvas with the latter having margins adapted to be bent over the edges of the first frame to lie thereagainst between the first frame and the second frame means, said second frame means hav-- ing slots aligning with the slots in the first frame, resilient tensioning means carried by the second frame means inside the slots therein and having extended piercing elements adapted to pierce said margins of the canvas and enter the slots in the first frame for tensioning the canvas when said second frame means is moved to a tensioning position with respect to the first frame, and means for fixedly relating the first frame and the second frame means in the tensioning position of the second frame means to hold the ten-- sioning means under flexure.

MATTHIAS M. KANDLE. 

